Pickleball and giving back are quickly becoming the new peanut butter and jelly of the tournament scene. This winning combination provides both clubs and players a fun way to do good, get some exercise and build stronger communities on and off the court.
To help clubs learn more about entering the charity tournament world, Pickleball Club Magazine spoke with Christen Black, cofounder and former CMO of Optomi Professional Services and current President of The TGB Foundation. Held in honor of her late husband, Christen began the charity tournament in 2024 as a way to fundraise for the foundation’s mission to rescue kids from child sex trafficking and abuse. As cofounder of a tech staffing company, it seemed a natural fit to use her knowledge of technology to help children. Christen is proud to say on average, they save nine children a day by funding the tech developed by their partner nonprofit organization.
Why pickleball instead of the more traditional golf tournament, one might ask?
“Pickleball has such a broad appeal. It’s very inclusive for all skill levels and requires less of a time commitment,” Christen says. “A pickleball club can also have more spectators for a more engaging and interactive event. It’s really thrilling to watch everyone cheering on the final competition!”
While new to the pickleball world, Christen wasn’t new to fundraising and already had a fairly solid formula in place, which she is happy to share to allow more clubs to help others.
When structuring your event, it’s important to set goals and a budget. To help meet your fundraising goals, present a few price points for tickets to allow for more to join in on the fun. The TGB Foundation tournament offers separate pricing for singles, doubles and even straight spectator ticket pricing. All tickets include dinner, coupons for drinks and court time for players, and of course, a donation to the selected charity. Since each club offers different amenities, be sure to use them to your advantage when setting ticket prices.
With those details decided, it’s time to set a venue and date and then market it to the community. While each market is different, in Charlotte, at least six months before the tournament is a great time to secure the location. It’s also a smart idea to keep event scheduling strategic. Christen passed along that their tournament will be on a Sunday this year instead of Saturday to help reduce overhead costs. Another pro tip: remember that participants paid to play pickleball. A great way to kick off the event is with a round robin before officially starting the tournament. Christen also tiers the play for participants by offering social, intermediate and advanced levels, allowing players to choose their own level of competition.
Once the details are finalized, it’s time to tell the community!
Ms. Black advises promoting the event and the cause. Marketing the fundraiser as a way to help solve a problem creates ownership with the participants and is a great way for them to feel good while doing good. While the tournament is only a day, the goal is to have players support the charity after the event as well.
Social media, email and networking with your connections are low-cost ways to spread the word. With Christen’s business background and network, she found LinkedIn to be a successful way to grow participation. When thinking of who to target for sponsorships, look at businesses that are aligned with the event’s mission as soon as a venue is secured. Leveling sponsorships is also a good way to make it accessible for more businesses. Suggestions include court sponsors, dinner sponsors, etc. all with varying levels of promotion depending upon the sponsorship fee. Use court signage, digital displays in the venue, social media thank yous, and news release mentions to keep your supporters’ names in the public eye. It’s a great cross-promotion!
One more way to market the event is through an influencer. Reach out to a local social media star who has an authentic connection to the cause to help promote the event. Their social media reach and affinity for the medium can be a great benefit!
When tournament day arrives, the goal is to ensure attendees leave with a memorable experience and a deeper connection to the event’s mission. Take advantage of a captive audience at dinner as another opportunity to thank sponsors and share more about the foundation’s work and impact. Highlight the good that will happen as a result of the fundraising. Building a community also builds repeat attendance and encourages attendees to tell friends about their experience for weeks to come.
Also, remember to share the amount raised after the event! It’s a great time for people to post pictures from the event and for you to start advertising for next year. It’s never too early!
Hosting a charity pickleball tournament is a fantastic way to bring people together for a cause and have a great time. Christen says the satisfaction of seeing everyone enjoying themselves and feeling connected to a greater cause is a fantastic feeling.
Whether your club is large or small, every club can host a successful tournament by planning with intention, promoting with purpose, and most importantly, connecting your players to the impact they’re making. Take the leap – you won’t regret it! And neither will the community.
